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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiques 

Th 

The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 

L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 

to 

Th 
pa 
of 
fill 

Coloured  c;  lers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

fill 
Or 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

be 
th( 
sic 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculde 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  peiiicuides 

oti 
fir 
sic 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

or 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Th 
sh 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

^ 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

VII 

Til 
wt 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualit^  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Ml 
dif 
en 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matdriel  supplementaire 

be 
rig 
re< 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

mi 

D 


D 


La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fagon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


-7 

12X 


16 


ii\ 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


tails 

du 
odifier 

une 
mage 


Th«  copy  filmed  bar*  has  b««n  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  itaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif ications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustra^ad  impras- 
sion.  or  tha  bacit  covsr  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  beginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'axamplaira  filmi  f ut  reproduit  grice  i  la 
ginArositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Lee  images  suivantes  ont  4tA  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nattet*  da  I'exemplaira  fiimi.  et  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Lea  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmte  en  comminn^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniire  paga  qui  comporta  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  ie  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmte  an  commandant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustrdtion  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniire  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  la  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  Ie 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich*.  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  suptrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


irrata  j 

to  i 


pelure,  i 

n  d  i 


I 


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32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Histon/  of 
Americi 
Habits 
Tribes 
Dunn, 
Ed  wan 

Anoth 
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public  mil 
cures  the 
than  com 
John  Bui 
even  mor 
lar  claim 
limits  of 
contest,  ! 
dispute. 


^^%- 


From  the  Alhenasum. 
History  of  the  Oregon  Territory  and  British  North 
American  Fur  Trade,  with  an  Account  of  the 
Habits  and  Customs  of  the  Principal  Native 
Tribes  on  the  Northern  Continent.  Hy  John 
Dunn,  late  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 
Edwards  Si  Hughes. 

Anothek  book  upon  the  Oregon  !  But  now  it 
is  an  Englishman  tiiat  writes,  and  an  English 
public  must  needs  admire  the  patriotism  that  se- 
cures them  a  voluntary  advocate.  Brother  Jona- 
than commanded  the  talent  of  a  Greenhow,  but 
John  Bull  has  found  a  volunteer,  if  not  as  subtle, 
even  more  resolute  in  the  assertion  of  his  particu- 
lar claims.  Fortunately,  it  comes  not  witliin  the 
limits  of  our  duty  to  give  arbitrament  on  political 
contest,  nor  to  act  the  umpire  while  nations  hold 
dispute.     If  we  remarked  on  the  forced  inferences 


of  Mr.  Greenhow,  we  did  so,  because  the  argu- 
mentative structure  of  his  narrative  involved  us  in 
the  necessity  of  logical  examination :  Mr.  Dunn 
spares  us  the  consideration  of  deductions,  and 
writes  with  the  rough  confidence  of  a  man  satisfied 
with  his  own  conclusions  and  determined  in  thtm. 
His  mode  of  argument  seems  fair  enough,  but  his 
adduction  of  historic  support  is  rather  too  unhes- 
itating ;  he  summarily  decides,  and  evidently  to 
his  own  satisfaction,  in  one  brief  chapter,  a  ques- 
tion on  which  Mr.  Greenhow  has  expended  a  vol- 
ume, and  two  great  nations  much  fruitless  diplo- 
macy. One  pleasant  result  is,  that  the  reader  is 
not  perplexed  by  the  subtleties  of  ingenious  argu- 
ment. Mr.  Dunn  is  a  man  of  facts ;  he  states 
them  with  a  bold,  unhesitating  front,  liaving  so 
strong  a  faith  in  their  reality,  that  he  never  stops 
to  examine  them.  There  is,  too,  an  entire  ab- 
sence of  that  cxcitad  selfishness  which  dwells  m 

,  every  trivial  occurrence  with  visible  anxiety,  and 
trembles  to  omit  a  point  lest  a  cause  might  be  en- 

I  dangered.  But  we  strongly  disliko  the  bitter 
spirit  of  national  antipathy  in  which  the  writer 
so  injudiciously  indulges,  and  which  will,  with 
many  persons,  affect  the  fidelity  of  his  statements. 
Bad  conduct  is  never  improved  by  the  application 
of  hard  natnes,  and  taunting  censure  is  the  worst 
medicine  for  evil  practice.  The  unconcealed  hos- 
tility of  Mr.  Dunn  injures  the  cause  he  advocates, 
and  will  give  otrenc3  in  America  without  afford- 
ing satisfaction  here.  The  work,  however,  con- 
tains much,  and  of  interest,  about  which  there 
need  be  no  discussion  :  a  rapid  sketch  of  the 
History  of  the  Oregon  Settlement  of  tlie  Hud- 
son's Bay  and  other  fur  trading  companies,  an 
interesting  account  of  the  fur  trade,  and  cf  those 
engaged  in  it,  with  characteristic  anecdotes  and 
illustrations  of  the  habits  and  manners  of  the 
native  Indians — and  with  these  alone  we  shall 
concern  ourselves. 

Here  is  a  sketch  to  the  life  of  the  "  trappers, 
or  beaver  hunters"  : — 

"  In  the  old  times  of  the  Canadian  Air  trade 
when  the  trade  in  furs  was  cliiefly  pursued  about 
the  lakes  and  rivers,  the  expeditions  wore,  in  a 
great  degree,  carried  on  in  batteaux  and  canoes. 
But  a  totally  different  class  now  sprung  up — the 
'  mountaineers'— the  traders  and  trappers  that  scale 
the  vast  mountain  chains,  and  pursue  their  hazard- 
ous vocation  amidst  their  wild  rt'cess^cs — moving 
from  place  to  place  on  horseback — e?cposed  not 
alone  to  the  perils  of  the  wilderness,  but  to  iho 
perils  of  attack  from  fierce  Indians,  to  whom  it 
has  become  as  favorite  an  ex[)Ioit  to  harass  and 
waylay  a  band  of  trappers  with  their  {p;ick-horses, 
as  it  is  to  the  Arabs  of  the  desert  to  plunder  a 
caravan.  The  equestrian  exercises  in  wiiicii  they 
are  constantly  engaged — the  nature  of  tl-c  country 
they  traverse — vast  plains  and  mountains  pure 
and  exhilarating  in  their  atmospiieric  (jualitit^s — 
seem  to  make  them,  physically  and  mentally,  a 
tnoie  lively,  vigorous,  daring  and  enduring  race 
than  the  fur  traders  and  trappers  of  former  days, 
who  generally  had  huts  or  t^nts  to  shelter  them 
from  the  inclemency  of  the  season — were  seldom 


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DUNN  S   HISTORY   OF    THE    OKEGON   TERRITORY. 


347 


exposed  to  the  hostility  of  the  natives,  and  poncr- 
ally  were  within  reach  of  sujjplii's  from  the  settle- 
ments. There  is,  perhaps,  no  class  of  men  on 
the  earth  who  lead  a  life  of  more  continued  exer- 
tion, dauber  and  excitement;  and  who  are  more 
enamored  of  their  occupations,  than  the  free  trap- 
pers of  the  wild  regions  of  the  west.  No  toil,  no 
danffer,  no  privation,  can  turn  the  trapper  aside 
from  his  pursuit.  If  his  meal  is  not  ready  in 
time,  he  takes  his  rifle — liiea  to  the  forest — shoots 
his  (jame — lights  his  fire,  and  cooks  his  repast. 
With  his  horse  and  his  rifle  ho  is  independent  of 
the  world,  ami  spurns  its  restraints.  In  vain  may 
the  most  vigilant  and  cruel  savages  heset  his  path 
— in  vain  may  rocks,  and  precipices,  and  wintry 
torrents  oppose  his  progress;  let  hut  a  single 
track  oi'  a  heaver  meet  his  eye,  and  he  forgets  all 
danger,  and  defies  all  difliculties.  At  times  he 
may  be  seen,  with  his  traps  on  his  shoulder,  buf- 
fetiiis  his  way  across  rapid  streams  amidst  floating 
blocks  of  ice :  at  other  times  may  he  be  seen, 
with  his  traps  slnng  on  his  back,  clambering  the 
most  rugged  mountains — scaling  or  desceiiding 
the  most  frightful  precipices — searching,  by  routes 
inaccessible  to  horse,  and  never  before  trodden  by 
white  man,  for  springs  and  lakes  unknown  to  his 
comrades,  where  he  may  meet  with  his  favorite 
game.  This  class  of  hunters  are  generally  Cana- 
dians by  birth,  and  of  French  descent ;  who,  after 
being  bound  to  serve  the  traders  for  a  certain 
number  of  years  and  receive  wages,  or  hunt  on 
shares,  then  continued  to  hunt  and  trap  on  their 
own  account,  trading  with  the  Company  like  the 
Indians;  hence  they  are  called /rce  men.  Having 
passed  their  youth  in  the  wildernsss,  in  constant 
intercourse  with  th  Indians,  and  removed  from 
civilized  society,  thej  lapse  with  natural  facility 
into  the  habits  of  sava<.    life." 

The  "  voyageurs"  resemble  the  "  arrieros"  in 
Spain,  with  this  difl^erence,  that  instead  of  travel- 
ling by  land  with  mules,  the  voyageurs  go  by 
water  with  "  batteaux  or  boats,  and  canoes." 
They  are  the  most  indispensable  class  of  func- 
tionaries in  carrying  on  the  fur  trade  : — 

"Their  dress  is  generally  half  civilized,  half 
savage.  They  wear  a  capot,  or  outside  coat, 
made  of  a  blanket — a  sniped  cotton  shirt — cloth 
trowsers,  or  leather  leggins — mocassins,  or  deer- 
skin shoes,  without  a  sole,  and  ornamented  on  the 
upper;  and  a  belt  of  variegated  worsted,  from 
which  are  suspended  a  knife,  tobacco-pouch,  and 
other  implements.  Their  language  is  of  the  same 
piebald  character,  being  a  French  patois,  embroi- 
dered with  Indian  and  English  words  and  phrases." 

Steam,  it  appears,  is  making  encroachments  on 
the  "vocation"  of  the  voyageurs  as  well  as  on 
everything  else.  Having  described  the  settlement 
at  Red  River,  and  the  manner  of  bufTalo  hunting, 
the  author  gives  us  a  clear  and  interesting  account 
of  the  Company's  principles  of  dealing,  and  the 
mode  of  traffic  with  the  Northern  Indians : — 

"  The  principle  universally  acted  on  throughout 
the  Company's  territories,  which  have  been  now 
reduced,  considering  their  vast  extent,  and  the 
many  difficulties  to  be  encountered,  to  a  state  of 
astonishing  quiet,  peace,  and  good  government, 
is,  that  the  true  interests  of  the  native  Indian 
and  the  white  resident  are  indissolubly  united  ; 
and  that  no  immediate  advantage,  or  prospect  of 


it,  is  to  stand  in  the  way  of  improving  the  condi- 
tion of  the  natives.  The  following  extract  from 
the  standing  orders  of  the  Compa.iy  will  convey 
an  idea — though  a  faint  one^)f  the  wise,  humane, 
and  liberal  spirit  by  which  it  is  actuated  : — '  That 
the  Indians  be  treated  with  kindness  and  indul- 
gence ;  and  mild  and  conciliatory  means  resorted 
to,  in  order  to  encourage  industry,  repress  vice, 
anu  inculcate  morality — that  the  itsc  of  spirituous 
liquors  be  gradually  discontinut-a  in  the  few  dis- 
tricts in  which  it  is  yet  iiulispensable  ;  and  that 
the  Indians  be  liberally  su|)pliod  with  requisite 
necessaries — particularly  with  articles  of  ammuni- 
tion, whether  they  have  the  means  of  paying  for 
them,  or  not.'  Since  thtise  general  orders  were 
issued,  the  Company,  finding  the  success  of  this 
humane  and  judicious  policy  gradually  answering 
the  proposed  aim,  has  at  last  adopted  the  bold  and 
decisive  course  of  abolishing  altogether  the  use  of 
spirituous  liquors  as  articles  of  trade  with  the 
natives.  They  have  not  only  dune  this  in  the 
territories  within  their  own  jurisdiction  ;  but  have, 
by  a  new  article  introduced  into  the  treaty  of 
commerce,  entered  into  with  the  Russians  by  Sir 
George  Simpson,  stipulated  that  the  Russians 
should  act,  in  their  trading  with  the  natives,  on 
the  same  principle.  So  that  henceforward  one 
source  of  demoralization  will  be  dried  up.  •  • 
So  far  has  it  been  the  wish  or  policy  of  the  Com- 

rany  not  to  acquire  an  undue  influence  over  the 
ndians  by  loading  them  with  debts,  that  repeated 
attempts  have  been  made  to  reduce  the  trade  to 
simple  barter ;  and  they  have  often  cancelled  the 
debts  of  whole  tribes — for  instance,  since  the 
junction  of  the  two  companies  in  1821,  the  debts 
of  the  Chippewyans  have  been  twice  cancelled. 
But  from  the  peculiar  disposition  and  customs  of 
the  Indians — especially  the  northern  Indians — 
these  good  intentions  have  not  yet  produced  all 
the  hoped-for  good,  although  l(.  ;y  are  gradually 
working  out  their  object.  The  Cnipewyaiis  have 
a  custom  which,  until  eradicated,  must  operate  as 
a  check  on  their  progressive  prosperity.  On  the 
death  of  a  relative,  they  destroy  guns,  ammuni- 
tion, blankets,  kettles ;  in  short,  everything  they 
Eossess ;  and  conclude  the  havoc  by  tearing  their 
uts  to  pieces.  When  these  transports  of  grief 
have  subsided,  they  find  themselves  reduced  to 
utter  want,  and  are  obliged  to  resort  to  the  nearest 
establishments  for  a  fresh  supply  of  necessaries ; 
and  thus  their  debts  are  renewed,  and  their  wants 

feriodically  kept  alive.  In  some  parts  of  the 
ndian  territory,  the  hunting  grounds  descend  by 
inheritance  among  the  natives ;  and  this  right  of 
property  is  rigidly  enforced.  But  where  no  such 
salutary  law  prevails,  their  main  source  of  wealth 
— the  beaver — would  soon  be  exhausted  by  tho 
eager  seareh  of  tho  hunters,  if  the  Company  had 
not  adopted  judicious  regulations  to  prevent  the 
havoc ;  for  they  have,  for  several  years  past,  used 
every  effort,  through  their  officers,  to  exhort  the 
natives  to  spare  the  young  of  that  animal.  *  * 
But  the  attempt  will  be  easily  understood  to  bo 
one  of  extreme  difficulty,  in  consequence  of  the 
passion  fur  depriving  the  animal  creation  of  life 
so  strongly  implanted  in  the  breast  of  the  North 
American  Indian,  that  it  costs  him  a  pang  to  pass 
bird,  beast,  or  fish,  without  an  effiirt  to  destroy  it, 
whether  he  stands  in  need  of  it  or  not.  The 
tendency  to  destrucliveness  is  a  vehement  instinct 
of  their  nature.  Near  York  Factory,  in  1831, 
this  propensity,  contrary  to  all  the  remonstrances 
of  the  Company's  servants  at  that  place,  led  to 


11)^537 


348 


Dunn's  histoky  of  the  Oregon  tekkitohv. 


the  indiscriiniriato  (lostruotioi  .  a  countless  liord 
of  rtiiii-dccr,  wli'!<;  cros.sin]^^  ilio  hroad  stream  of 
Hayc's  Hivot,  in  the  liei(,'lit  of  summer.  The 
natives  Inok  some  of  the  meat  for  present  use,  but 
thousands  of  carcases  were  abandoned  to  the  cur- 
runt,  and  infected  the  river's  banks,  or  drifted 
down  into  Hudson's  Hay,  there  to  feed  the  sea 
fowls  and  polar  l)ears.  As  if  it  were  a  judgnent 
for  this  wanton  slaughter,  in  which  women  and 
children  participated,  the  deer  have  never  since 
visited  that  part  of  the  country  in  similar  num- 
bers. In  short,  the  Indians,  accustomed  either  to 
a  feast  or  a  fast,  have  little  idea  beyond  the 
present  gratification  ;  and  it  is  to  this  impruo^nce 
that  deaths  by  starvation,  and  the  occasional  de- 
sertion of  infants,  and  the  helpless  aged,  must  be 
ascribed.  The  (juantity  of  provisions  furnished 
by  the  Indians  to  the  establishments  throughout 
the  northern  districts  is  inconsiderable.  In  the 
winter  season,  it  is  limited  to  the  rib  pieces  of  the 
moose,  red  and  rein-deer,  half  dried  in  the  sm<»ke 
oC  iheir  huts  or  tents,  (the  bones  being  removed 
for  lightness  of  carriage,)  with  an  occasional  ad- 
dition of  some  tongues.  In  the  course  of  the 
suiTiincr,  when  the  animals  are  easily  hunted,  and 
there  is  great  facility  of  water  transport,  the  more 
industrious  families  usually  bring  to  the  fort  a 
bale  of  dried  meat,  consisting  of  the  fleshy  parts 
of  the  deer,  cut  into  large  slices  and  dried  in  the 
Pun,  with  a  bladder  or  two  containing  fat,  or  a 
bag  of  pemican.  When  the  residents  of  a  fort 
find  these  supplies,  and  the  produce  of  their  fishe- 
ries, and  of  their  cultivated  plots  of  ground,  (where 
the  ground,  from  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  climate, 
is  capable  of  cultivation,)  insufficient  to  supply 
their  wants,  they  engage  two  or  more  young  In- 
dians, without  familiee,  as  '  fort  hunters.'  These 
are  corsidered  as  regular  servants ;  and  their 
duty  is  "onfined  to  the  killing  of  large  animals  for 
the  use  "f  the  establishments.  They  are  allowed 
to  keep  a  portion  of  the  meat,  sufficient  for  their 
owp  consumption  :  the  remainder  is  transported 
to  the  fort,  with  sledges  and  dogs,  by  the  servants 
of  the  Company.  To  become  a  fort  hunter  is  an 
object  of  ambition  to  ^he  northern  Indian,  as  it  is 
an  acknowledgment  of  hia  skill  and  fidelity,  and 
ensures  to  him  the  gayest  clothing." 

The  great  American  establishment  of  Astoria 
now  belongs  to  the  Company's  head-quarters  at 
"  Vancouver,"  has  changed  its  name  to  "  Fort 
George,"  and  retains  no  vestige  of  its  former 
importance.  There  are  four  tribes  of  Indians 
about  the  lower  parts  of  the  Columbia.  The 
author  tells  us  of  their  distinguishing  traits  of 
character,  and  furnishes  us  with  many  curious 
anecdotes,  but  the  presence  of  the  "  Ojibbeways 
and  loways"  among  us,  and  the  publications  of 
Mr.  Catlin  have  bo  familiarized  the  public  with 
Indian  life,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  enter  on  this 
subject.  Fort  Vancouver,  so  called  from  the 
English  navigator,  is  situated  about  ninety  miles 
from  the  Pacific  on  the  north-west  of  the  Colum- 
bia. It  was  founded  by  Governor  Simpson,  in 
1824,  as  being  more  convenient  for  trade  than 
Fort  George : — 

"  Fort  Vancouver  is  then  the  grand  mart,  and 
rendezvous  for  the  Company's  trade  and  servants 
on  the  Pacific.  Thither  all  the  furs  and  other 
articles  of  trade  collected  west  of  the  Rocky  moun- 


i  tains  from  California  to  tlio  Uiis.*i.ui  teriiloriys,  arc 
brought  from  the  several  otluT  iuiMt  ami  stations; 
and  from  thence  they  are  shi(iiic(i  to  llnsiand. 
Thither  ton  all  the  goods  broujjhl  fnmi  I'lnjiland 
for  traffic — the  various  articles  in  woollen."*  iiiul 
cottons — in  grocery — in  hardware — rea'!y-made 
clothes — oils  and  paints — ship  stores,  &e.,  are 
landed ;  and  from  thence  they  are  dibtrihiiied  to 
the  various  posts  of  the  interior,  and  alonj;  tiie 
northern  shores  by  sailing  vessels,  or  by  boat,  or 
pack-horses,  as  the  several  routes  permit ;  for  dis- 
tribution and  traffic  among  the  natives,  or  for  the 
supply  of  the  Company's  servants.  In  a  word, 
Fort  Vancouver  is  the  grand  emporium  of  the 
company'a  trade,  west  of  the  Rocliy  mountains; 
as  well  within  the  Oregon  territory,  as  beyond  it, 
from  California  to  Kamschatka." 

The  fort  is  a  parallelogram  250  yards  long,  and 
150  broad,  inclosed  by  a  wooden  wall  20  feet  high, 
at  each  angle  of  which  there  is  a  bastion  furnished 
with  two  twelve-pounders.  The  area  within  is 
divided  into  courts,  around  whicl.  arc  the  offices, 
warehouses,  workshops,  with  a  chapel,  a  school- 
house,  and  a  powder  magazine.  The  governor's 
house  stands  in  the  cetitre  ;  in  it  there  is  a  public 
dining-hall  and  "smoking  room,"  where  the  au- 
thor tells  us  "  there  is  a  great  deal  of  amusement." 
The  clerks  are  promoted,  according  to  their  skill 
and  integrity,  to  be  chief  traders,  chief  factors, 
until  finally  they  may  become  shareholders,  and 
governors  of  forts.  The  mechanics,  and  servants 
of  the  Company,  reside  on  the  bank  of  a  river  some 
distance  from  the  fort.  The  officers  often  marry 
half-breed  women,  who,  it  seems,  make  admirable 
housewives ;  they  are  the  daughters  of  persons 
high  in  the  Company's  service,  by  Indian  women 
of  good  descent,  and  are  considered  of  a  superior 
class.  The  lower  servants  of  the  Company  marry 
native  women,  who  make  fond  and  careful  wives. 
The  male  half-breeds  are  distinguished  for  their 
horsemanship,  and  are  very  dexterous  in  catching 
the  wild  horse,  which  they  do  by  means  of  the 
lasso.  A  farm  of  3000  acres  is  attached  to  the 
fort,  which  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

The  Oregon  territory,  according  to  Mr.  Dunn, 
extends  from  latitude  42°  to  54°  north,  and  is  about 
four  times  the  area  of  Great  Britain.  It  is  re- 
markable that  all  the  rivers  which  flow  through 
the  country  take  their  rise  and  are  emptied  witiiin 
its  limits.  The  scenery  is  beautiful ;  but  though 
there  are  many  fertile  districts  along  the  Pacific, 
as  a  whole  the  country  is  not  favorable  for  agri- 
culture ;  it  is  chiefly  valuable  for  trade,  and  the 
advantages  of  its  maritime  stations.  Mr.  Duim 
divides  the  country  into  three  sections,  the  West- 
ern, between  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  the  Cascade 
mountains ;  the  Middle,  lying  between  the  Cascade 
mountains  on  the  west,  and  the  Blue  mountains  on 
the  east;  the  Fjastern,  extending  from  the  Blue 
to  the  Rocky  mountains.  The  Cascade  rang-e  of 
mountains  bounding  the  western  section  is  the 
most  interesting ;  the  numerous  peaks  of  this  range 
have  been  named  by  the  Americans  after  their 
presidents,  which  seems  to  excite  much  indignation 


ssian  tprriloriHs,  arc 
r  i'ovis  iiiiij  stations  : 
'I'l'C'l  10  Kiitiiatid. 
iiilL'lit  fnim  Kiijiland 
s   ill    W()(ill(!iis  iitid 

Iware— rea'lv-made 
'  stores,   Sec,   arc 

are  distrihuied  to 
or,  and  alono:  tlio 
3els,  or  Ijy  boat,  or 
Bs  permit ;  /or  dis- 

natives,  or  for  tlie 
"lis.  In  a  \vord, 
emiioriiim  of  the 
^"■l>y  iniiuiitains ; 
tory,  as  beyond  it, 

0  yards  loop,  and 
wall  20  feet  high, 
bastion  furnished 
R  area  within  is 
h  are  the  offices, 
chapel,  a  school- 
The  governor's     | 
there  is  a  public      I 
'  where  the  au-      i, 
of  amusement."      f 
ing  to  their  skill 
3,  chief  factors, 
lareholders,  and      I 
cs,  and  servants      | 
c  of  a  river  some      | 
2rs  often  marrv       I 
make  admirable       | 
tors  of  persons       ? 
'  Indian  women 
d  of  a  superior 
'ompany  marry 
careful  wives, 
ished  for  their 
lus  in  catching 
means  of  the 
tached  to  the 
ivation. 
to  Mr.  Dunn, 
'',  and  is  about 
in.     It  is  re- 
flow  tlirough 
tnpiied  vvitliin 
;  but  though 
?  the  Pacific, 
■hie  for  agri- 
■ade,  and  the 
Mr.  Dunn 
s,  the  Wcsf- 
the  Cascade 
the  Cascade 
lountains  on 
^  the  Blue 
ie  range  of 
tion   is  ilie 
f  this  range 
after  their 
indignation 


in  Mr.  Dunn.  The  chief  river  is  the  Columbia, 
which  rises  in  the  Rocky  mountains,  in  latuude  ot 
60°  north  ;  it  receives  a  vast  number  of  tributary 
strean.s,  ColviUe  river,  the  Spokan,  the  0  Kana- 
gan,  the  Walhwalla,  the  «nake  river,  the  Walla- 
mette,  and  the  Cowlitz.  After  the  Columbia, 
Frazer's  river  is  of  next  importance ;  there  are 
also  numerous  lakes,  so  that  the  country  is  well 

watered.  .        .,, 

The  climate  of  the  W.  stern  section  is  mild 
throughout  the  year.     The  Middle  section  is  sub- 
led  to  droughts,  and  the  extremes  of  heat  and 
cold  arc  great  and  frequent ;  the  climate  of  .he 
Eastern  division  is  very  variable.     The  soil  of  the 
Western  district  is  a  deep  black  vegetable  loum 
varying  to  a  light  brown.     The  hills  are  ol  basalt, 
stone,  and  slate.     The  soil  of  the  Eastern  section 
is  so  impregnated  with  salts,  that  it  is  incapable 
of  cultivation.     On  the  northern  coast  there  are 
many  islands  which  belong  to  the  territory  ;  Van- 
couver  island,   containing   15,000    square   miles, 
Queen  Chariotte  island,  containing  4,000  square 
miles,  are  the  two  largest;  their  climate  is  mild, 
and  their  soil  well  adapted  to  agriculture.     Coal 
is  found  close  to  the  surface,  and  there  are  numer- 
ous veins  of  valuable  minerals  ;  the  rivers  abound 
in   fish,  particulariy  salmon;    elk,  deer,  bears, 
wolves,  martins,  and  musk  rats,  aro.  m  great  abun- 
dance, and  large  herds  of  buffaloes  are  found  near 
the  Rocky  Mountains.     Mr.  Dunn  speaks  thus 
hopefully  of  the  future  prospects  of  Oregon  :— 

^'  From  the  advantages  this  country  possesses, 
it  bids  fair  to  have  an  extensive  commerce,  on 
advantacreous  terms,  with  most  parts  of  the  Pac.hc. 
It  is  well  calculated  to  produce  the  following  sta- 
ple commodities-furs,  salted  beef  and  pork,  fish 
prain,  flour,  wool,  hides,  tallow,  timber,  and  coals , 
Sn  return  for  these,  sugars,  coffee,  and  other 
Jropical  productions,  may  be  obtained  at  the  Sand- 
3  Isfands.  Advantages  that,  in  time,  must 
become  of  immense  extent.' 

On  the  whole,  this  book  is  interesting  as  furnish- 
incr  a  clear  and  rapid  history  of  the  British  fur 
trade,  and  a  minute  and  familiar  account  of  the 
habits  and  the  social  doings  of  the  remote  remnants 
of  a  people  who  are  fast  perishing. 


